WARREN SHIVER
HOW SWEET THE NAME OF JESUS SOUNDS
Author: John Newton
(1725-1807)
Composer: Alexander Robert Reinagle
(1799-1877)

John Newton was born on July 24, 1725 in London, England. He was an only child. His father was a sea captain. His mother was a homemaker, and a very devout Christian mother. She prayed daily with John, and at his birth dedicated him to God. This was an ideal life, for any child; a praying mother that loved him more than anything. We will see that the secret of his salvation was the fact that he had God's greatest gift, a God-fearing and dedicated mother.

At the age of seven, John's mother died, but all the good seed she had planted in his short life would, in years to come, bring fruition. John lived in boarding schools and with relatives and friends until the age of ten. At this time, he went to sea with his father. As one could expect, this was no life for a young lad. The seamen were ruthless: swearing, cursing, drinking, gambling and cheating. By being thrown amongst this group of loose and sinful companions, John soon learned their ways so much so that even among them, he became notorious for his wicked ways. He would curse, swear, and blaspheme so wickedly that even the seamen on board the ship were surprised. His father had no control over him, and he joined the Navy to start out on his own when he became of age.

Here again he defied authority, and although he had been promoted to the rank of midshipman, he was a disgrace to the military and was discharged for insubordination.

John then took a job with a West African Slave Trader. He was made captain of one of the slave ships, and was in charge of the capture, and trafficking of the slaves. His life was miserable. He could not run away from his mother's prayers and the teachings she left him. He knew that selling another human into slavery was wrong. His mother had taught him to do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.

At the age of 23, John was on a trip when the ship he was sailing ran into a powerful storm. The ship sprang a leak, and everyone on board was sure it would sink. In his agony and fear, he cried out aloud, "May the Lord have mercy upon us." This was the first prayer he had prayed in several years. God spared the ship from sinking, and the lives of all those aboard.

This close call caused John to think. He started reading his Bible and praying, and slowly changed his wicked ways. He treated his crew differently; with passion. Also he stopped beating and mistreating the slaves aboard. He soon accepted Christ in his life and gave up his seafaring life. In 1750, he married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Catlett, a really dedicated woman. Soon after his marriage, he came under the influence of the Reverend John Wesley, and the Reverend George Whitefield. They were two of the greatest evangelists of that day.

John Newton spent the next eight years at Liverpool working in an office. During his spare time, he read books on theology, and studied Greek, Hebrew, and Latin. At the age of thirtynine, he was licensed to be Curate of Olney in Buckinghamshire, where he served for the next fifteen years (1764-1779). It was during this time that John became acquainted with William Cowper.

They became the best of friends. Cowper wrote 67 hymns and Newton wrote 281. They were published in a book called, The Olney Hymns.

In 1779, John Newton became the Rector of St. Mary's Woolnoth, Lombard St. in London. He served here for 27 years. When he was 80 years old, he was almost blind and so weak than an associate had to stand with him in the pulpit to give him support to keep him from falling. He refused to retire, and kept preaching until on December 21, 1807 he passed away. He was 83 years of age.

While Newton was on his deathbed, a friend, William, Jay of Bath received a profound statement from Newton. He said to Mr. Jay, "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things, that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a Great Savior."

Alexander Robert Reinagle wrote the music for this hymn. Alexander was born on August 21, 1799 in Brighton, England. He was the organist at St. Peter's in Oxford, England (1822-1853). Alexander died on April 6, 1877 in Kidlington, Oxfordshire, England.

Stories Behind The Hymns is written by Warren Shiver of Biscoe,NC. Shiver has been fascinated with the true stories behind the hymns since he was a 12-year old attending East Gaffney Baptist Church in Gaffney, S.C. He began studying the stories behind the hymns in 1957. If you have questions or comments, he can be reached by email at wshiver99@embarqmail.com or by mail at PO BOX 775,Biscoe,NC 27209.

The 300-page softback book, 104 Of My Favorite Hymn Stories, costs $14.95. The book will be shipped to Gaffney Ledger and Weekly Ledger readers postage free or books may be picked up at The Gaffney Ledger office on Floyd Baker Boulevard. Books may also be ordered on the website, www.myfavoritehymnstories.com., or by sending a check or money order to Warren Shiver, P.O. Box 775, Biscoe, N.C. 27209.

HOW SWEET THE NAME OF JESUS SOUNDS

Verse 1
In a believer's ear!
It sooths his sorrows, heals his wounds,
And drives away his fear.
And drives away his fear.
Verse 2
It makes the wounded spirit whole
And calms the troubled breast;
'Tis manna to the hungry soul
And to the weary, rest.
And to the weary rest.
Verse 3
Dear name! The Rock on which I build,
My Shield and Hiding-place;
My never-failing Treasure filled
With boundless stores of grace.
With boundless stores of grace.
Verse 4
Jesus, my Shepherd, Brother, Friend,
My Prophet, Priest, and King,
My Lord, my Life, my Way, my End,
Accept the praise I bring.
Accept the praise I bring.

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